What was once an unattractive part of downtown is now one of Atlanta's most appealing public areas which attracts more than 3 million visitors a year. A legacy of the 1996 Olympic Games, the 9-hectare park was originally built to celebrate the Games being held in Atlanta, as well as to revitalise a part of town that had long been forgotten. The park is bound by several of the city's major attractions including the Georgia Aquarium, the CNN Centre and the World of Coca-Cola.
The centrepiece of Centennial Olympic is the Fountain of Rings which is just the place to cool off during the summer months. The world’s largest interactive fountain which features the Olympic Ring symbol is made up of 250 jets which propel water 10 metres up into the air. The sound and light show is played four times a day, every day, at 12:30 pm, 3:30 pm, 6:30 pm and 9 pm.
As well as the fountains, there are so many other things to do here. At weekends, families and groups of friends meet here to socialise and enjoy a picnic, while in the mornings and evenings, the paths that loop the park are filled with energetic cyclists and joggers.
All year round, there's something going on here. In the winter season, from November onwards, the park transforms into a winter wonderland with twinkling lights, Christmas trees and an ice-skating rink. During the summer, the park plays host to a series of events. On Tuesday and Thursday lunchtimes, there’s Music@Noon where visitors can enjoy a variety of live music performed by local artists, or on Wednesdays after dark, there's the Wednesday Evening WindDown.
The park is open every day. There are limited public parking spaces, so public transport may be a better option. There are three bus lines stop at the park.
